Civil engineering is a professional engineering practice that applies the knowledge of mathematics and the physical sciences to design, construct and maintain the physical and naturally built environment for the benefit of man and the environment. Put simply, civil engineers build bridges, roads, canals, dams, tall buildings, and other large structures. Civil engineering is all about creating, improving and protecting the environment in which we live. The practice is concerned with the provision of infrastructure and other facilities for day-to-day life and for transport of goods and services for the promotion of people's comfort and the utilization of the industry.

Civil Engineering is considered the oldest engineering profession (it was originally embedded in ME) since the term was only coined to separate it from another term, military engineering (ME). Some writers prefer to call it the oldest engineering profession after military engineering. Civil engineering was originally defined simply to distinguish non-military engineering from military engineering but it actually represents so much more. Without civil engineers we wouldn’t have a constant supply of clean water, roads or trains to get to work in the morning, or sustainable energy to help us save our planet.

Civil engineering is traditionally broken into several sub-disciplines including environmental engineering, geotechnical engineering, structural engineering, highway and transportation engineering, municipal or urban engineering, water resources engineering, materials engineering, coastal engineering, surveying, and construction engineering. Civil engineering takes place on all levels: in the public sector from municipal through to federal levels, and in the private sector from individual homeowners through to international construction giants and dealings REF 1.

Specialization

Within the core field of civil engineering, students can specialize in one of several traditional areas: Coastal, Environmental, Geotechnical, Materials, Structural, Transportation and Water Resources.

If you are already a practicing civil engineer or a student of civil engineering, you will help your career growth by becoming a member of the prestigious Nigerian Institution of Civil Engineers (N.I.C.E). Join NICE today.